Patient positioner device

ABSTRACT

A device for raising a patient resting on a tabletop from a flat position to a desired angular position for aiding in photographic and examination procedures. The device, located beneath the patient, includes a flexible belt secured about the table and a lever pivotally attached to the belt at one end. A lever support means maintains the lever pivoted upwardly and the patient angularly positioned as desired.

I United States Patent [191 [111 3,817,509 Komline June 18, 1974 PATIENTPOSITIONER DEVICE Prima ExaminerRo Lake 76 l t Th R.K P k,N.. 1 men or3% omhne eapac J Assistant Examiner-Craig R. Femberg Attorney, Agent, orFirm--Watson, Cole, Grindle & [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1972 Watson [21]Appl. No.: 293,570

[57] ABSTRACT [52 vs. C! 269/322, 269/323, 269/328 A device for raisinga Patient resting on a tabletop 51] Int. Cl A6lg 13/00 from a flatPosition to a desired angular Position for 58 Field 6: Search 269/322,323, 324, 325, aiding Photographic and examination Procedures- 269/326,327, 328 The device, located beneath the patient, includes a flexiblebelt secured about the table and a lever pivot- [56] Referencw Citedally attached to the belt at one end. A lever support UNITED STATESPATENTS means maintains the lever pivoted upwardly and the patientangularly positioned as desired. 2,339,828 1/1944 Worth 269/3223,565,419 2/l97l Allard 269/328 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures sis-1115099PATENI'EDM I a ram PATIENT POSITIONER DEVICE This invention relatesgenerally to a devieefor aiding in various anatomical photographic andexamination procedures and'more particularly to such a device capableofangularly positioning a patient for more effectively carrying out suchprocedures.

While conducting various anatomical photographic and examinationprocedures with the patient in a horizontal position, it becomesessential that photographs be taken not only frontally but at anglesthereby requiringthat'thepatient be moved to afford the best possibleposition for the camera. The patient cannot be effectively propped intoa proper position for the camera by an attendantorattendants withoutavoiding subsequent movement, especially during lengthy examinationprocedures. For example, aheart catheterization procedure is generallycarried out by inserting a catheter into the artery in the area-of thegroin with consequent numerouspictures thereafter taken of the heartfrom variousangles. In this procedure, itis necessary that the hipsoffthe patient be constrained and that the spine thenbevtwistedsufficiently to obtain the proper relationship betweenthe camera and theheart to assure utmost'clarity of the photos.

Previous devices in this fieldmake use of either a rotating: table orsome type of upper body harness designed to give the attendant a-betteropportunity to po sition thepatient. Such devices, however, oftenobstruct the camera so thatit cannot be effectively placed in themost'advantageous position: Moreover, many of theseprior'art devices arerather complicated in their designso'that both capital expense and costof operation become important factors.

In accordance with the'present invention, a highly practicalandeconomicaldevice is provided for movementiof the patient to a desiredangular position and maintaining the patient propped in suchposition.This is theprincipal object of the invention.

Another'object is top'rovide such device which is located beneath thepatient and includes a flexible-belt securedabout theexamination tablewith a lever being pivotallyattachedto the belt at one end. The patientmay thereforebe easily shifted into a desiredangular position as thelever is pivoted upwardly.

Afurtherobject of this invention is to provide such aidevice wherein thelever is pivotally attached at one endto the topportion of the flexiblebeltnear one side ofthe table with the free end of the lever extendingoutwardly ofthe other side of the table.

Otherobjects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill becomemore apparent from the following. detailed description of the inventionwhen considered in" conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is aperspective view showing a patient lying onanexaminationtable with a pair of positioning devices of the present inventionlocated beneath his upper'torso;

FIG. 2lis a sectional view taken along the line 2- ofFIG. 1*showingoperation of the positioning device; and:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FlG. l without ashowingof the patient.

Tumingnow to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer tolike and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a patient Pis shown in FIG. 1 lying in a flat and horizontal position on the topsurface of an examination table 10. This table includes a supportsurface 11, legs 12 and a foam or similar type of pad 13. The patientpositioner device of the invention, generally designated 14, is locatedbeneath the patients upper torso so that this portion of the patientsbody may be angularly adjusted in relation to the camera during a heartcatheterization procedure, for example. During such procedure, the hipsof the patient may be constrained as by means of a strap or belt, notshown in the drawings.

Device 14 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 as comprising a flexible belt15, of durable fabric or similar material, wrapped about the support 11and pad 13 and secured in place as by means of a Velcro type fastenerprovided at the free end l6of the belt. Of course, other types ofsecuring means may be used as well; for example, a buckle, a clamp, snapfastener, etc.

A lever member 17 is pivotally attached at one end to the top surface 18of the belt near one side of the table. The free end 19 of lever 17extends outwardly beyond the opposite side of the table as clearly shownin FIG. 1. The lever is pivotally attached by means ofa flexiblesleeveelement 21 of a durable fabric or similar material as that used for thebelt, and is secured at one end thereof as by stitching 22 to the topsurface l8-of the belt. The open end of sleeve element 21 receives aportion of lever 17, the sleeve opening being dimensioned in such amanner as to snugly receive lever 17 without the need for any securingmeans therefor.

A support means in the form of a short rod'member 23 is provided formaintaining lever 17 and the upper torso of patient P in the desiredangular position. Rod

23 is simply hinged to the levers under surface asat lever-'24 with itsfree end bearing against the top surface l8of the belt during thispropped up position of the lever.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that a pair of contiguous patientpositioner devices 14 are used so that one of the devices nearest thepatients head, for example, may be propped up at a greater angle ascompared to the other of such devices to effect and maintain a twist ofthe patients spine while his hips are constrained during acatheterization procedureDevices l4'are shown in FIG. l as designed forelevating the right shoulder of the patient although these devices canbe also used as well for the left shoulder by simply arranging thedevice on the table in themanner as shown in phantom in FIG. 2.Moreover, should it become necessary to angularly position the patientsentire body, the devices 14 could be easily spaced apart with one ofthem positioned under the shoulder of the patient and the otherpositioned under his hips.

It should be pointed out that a chock block or the like could beprovided in lieu of rod member 23 for the pur pose of propping up lever17 to a desired angular position.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that a simple andeconomical, yet highly effective, device is provided for convenientlymoving all or a portion of the patients body into a preferred angularposition and maintaining it as such during some anatomical procedure.One or more of these devices may be used and positioned beneath variousportions of the patients body so as to raise one of his shoulders asdescribed, one of his hips, a rib or some portion of the knee or eventhe head.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device for raising a patient resting on the top surface of a tablefrom a flat to an angular position for aiding in photographic andexamination procedures, comprising at least one flexible belt securedabout said table and having a top portion lying fully in contact againstsaid top surface, at least one sleeve element attached at one end tosaid top portion near one side of said table, an elongated lever memberlocated within said sleeve, the free end of said lever member extendingoutwardly of the other side of said table, and a lever support means onsaid lever so that, as said free end is pivoted upwardly about said oneend, said lever is maintained at a desired angular position for likewiseangularly positioning the patient.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said lever support meanscomprises a rod member hingedly secured at one end to the undersurfaceof said lever member.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein two of said flexible beltsare provided, each said belt being secured about said table and eachhaving a top portion lying fully in contact against said top surface,and wherein two of said elongated lever members are provided one foreach said belt.

1. A device for raising a patient resting on the top surface of a tablefrom a flat to an angular position for aiding in photographic andexamination procedures, comprising at least one flexible belt securedabout said table and having a top portion lying fully in contact againstsaid top surface, at least one sleeve element attached at one end tosaid top portion near one side of said table, an elongated lever memberlocated within said sleeve, the free end of said lever member extendingoutwardly of the other side of said table, and a lever support means onsaid lever so that, as said free end is pivoted upwardly about said oneend, said lever is maintained at a desired angular position for likewiseangularly positioning the patient.
 2. The device according to claim 1wherein said lever support means comprises a rod member hingedly securedat one end to the undersurface of said lever member.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein two of said flexible belts are provided,each said belt being secured about said table and each having a topportion lying fully in contact against said top surface, and wherein twoof said elongated lever members are provided one for each said belt.